Putnam Recycles
- Local Solid Waste Management Plan
- Recycling & Compost
- Medication Takeback
- Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
- Litter Cleanup
- Towns
- Contact Us
RECYCLING & COMPOST
MEDICATION TAKEBACK
HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF
LITTER
CLEANUP
Putnam County Local Solid Waste Management Plan
The Putnam County Department of Health presented the draft Local Solid Waste Management Plan (LSWMP) on November 18. This plan outlines strategies for reducing waste, increasing recycling, and promoting sustainable materials management within our county. The plan is available on this website by clicking here or on the image of the plan.
Public comments are no longer being accepted as of December 31, 2025. Those with questions should email
A paper copy of the plan can be viewed at the following locations:
Carmel Town Hall 60 McAlpin Ave, Mahopac NY, 10541
Kent Town Hall 25 Sybil's Crossing, Kent Lakes, NY 10512
Patterson Town Hall 1142 Route 311, Patterson, NY 12563
Philipstown Town Hall 238 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Cold Spring Village Hall 85 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Putnam Valley Town Hall 265 Oscawana Lake Road, Putnam Valley, New York 10579
Southeast Town Hall 1360 Route 22, Brewster, NY 10509
Brewster Village Hall 50 Main St B, Brewster, NY 10509
Brewster Public Library 79 Main St, Brewster, NY 10509
Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library 10 Morris Ave, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Reed Memorial Library 1733 US-6, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512
Desmond and Hamilton Fish Library 472 NY-403, Garrison, NY 10524
Kent Public Library 17 Sybils Crossing, Kent Lakes, NY 10512
Mahopac Public Library 668 US-6, Mahopac, NY 10541
Patterson Library 1167 NY-311, Patterson, NY 12563
Putnam Valley Free Library 30 Oscawana Lake Rd, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
Recycling & Compost
Curbside garbage and recycling programs are managed by each of the towns in Putnam County. For more information about your program, including pickup schedules, please contact your town.
- Click here for a list of permitted solid waste haulers.
- Click here for a list of permitted septic haulers
Click here to download the 2026 Solid/Septic Waste Hauler Permit Application. Waste Hauler/Transporter renewal applications must be submitted to the health department by February 13, 2026 or a late fee will be applied.
For more information about what can and cannot go in your recycle bin, please visit Recycle Right NY or click here.
Backyard composting is an easy way to reduce waste and turn your kitchen scraps into a soil amendment for your garden. To order a reduced-cost Earth Machine compost bin for your backyard, click here.
Find more information about backyard composting from Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County.
Event Recycling Container Rental:
Planning an outdoor fair, community gathering, or special event? Help your guests recycle right by borrowing our convenient recycling containers. We offer clearly labeled bins to make it easy for attendees to sort recyclables and reduce waste. Whether you're hosting a small neighborhood picnic or a large public festival, our containers support a cleaner, more sustainable event—and show your commitment to environmental responsibility. Submit a request with this form.
Medication Takeback
Unused or expired medications can be brought to any of the Medication Drop Boxes in Putnam County.
Acceptable items include prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications. Syringes, sharps, and lancets are NOT acceptable. These items can be brought to any hospital or nursing home in New York State. Please call the facility prior to bringing any items for disposal. Click here for information about bringing sharps to Putnam Hospital.
Medication Take Back events are held at least twice a year on the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. They take place in the Spring and Fall and are done in conjunction with the Prevention Council of Putnam, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and Putnam Hospital.
Medication Drop Boxes can be found in each town:
-
Carmel Town Hall
60 McAlpin Ave
Mahopac, NY 10541
845-628-1500 -
Kent Police Department
25 Sybil’s Crossing
Kent, NY 10512
Open 24/7 -
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department
3 County Center
Carmel, NY 10512
Open 24/7 -
ACME Pharmacy
1511 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
845-940-0565 -
Community Pharmacy
100 Independent Way Ste G
Brewster, NY 10509
845-278-2700 -
Rite Aid
180 Route 52
Carmel NY 10512
845-225-4134 -
Rite Aid
159 Route 6
Carmel NY 10512
845-628-5299 -
Rite Aid
1511 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
845-278-5251
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Putnam County hosts two Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Days (HHWD) each year, typically the first weekends of May and October at the Canopus Beach Parking Lot at Fahnestock State Park.
The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection dates will be announced here in early Spring 2026. To join the email notification list, please click here.
All waste is subject to inspection and will only be accepted in the County’s discretion. Please be advised that if any not accepted items as specified above are brought and are determined to present a hazard to residents, workers or the environment, Putnam County reserves the right to take any necessary safety measures, the cost of which shall be the resident’s responsibility.
Paint Recycling
New York State participates in the paint recycling program PaintCare, with several drop-off locations in and near Putnam County. For a list of accepted products, as well as a locator, visist paintcare.org
Electronics Recycling
Each town in Putnam County has their own electronics recycling program. Please check with your town for additional information.
Old or broken electronics can also be brought to Best Buy or Staples for recycling. For items that still work, consider a trade-in program, selling or donating the item.
What to Bring:
- Photo Chemicals
- Non-latex driveway sealer
- Pool Chemicals
- Creosote
- Waste Fuels (Kerosene, Gasoline, oil mixtures, brake fluid, antifreeze, auto fluids)
- Flammable liquids (Lighter Fluids)
- Metal polish
- Drain/oven cleaners
- Rug/upholstery cleaners
- Wood Preservatives
- Turpentine
- Stains & Varnishes
- Paint Thinners & Strippers
- Wood Preservatives
- Mothballs
- Rodent poisons
- Flea powders & collars
- Bug spray
- Nail polish remover, hair dye & hair sprays
- Pesticides (Bactericides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides)
- Chemical Fertilizers
- Adhesives, Resins, Solvents
- Oil-based & Latex paints
- Mercury containing products
- Button cell batteries (from watches, hearing aids) non-rechargeable only
- Fluorescent light bulbs & tubes
- Hand sanitizer (methanol tainted)
What NOT to Bring:
- Electronics, Computers, VCR's (e-waste)
- Used motor oil
- Plastic bags
- Tires
- Unlabeled/unidentified containers
- Household batteries(AAA, AA, C, D, 9V)
- Rechargeable batteries, sealed lead acid batteries, car batteries, tool batteries
- Fire Extinguishers
- Propane Tanks
- Ammunition, explosives, fireworks
- Asbestos products
- Construction debris
- Furniture, toys or clothing
- Smoke Detectors
- Medical waste, old medications
- NO COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ITEMS
- ITEMS IN GARBAGE AND/OR LAWN BAGS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Litter Cleanup
Did you know Putnam County has a Litter Patrol? If you see litter on the roadside, let us know by filling out this form. Your request will be shared with the Litter Patrol to place on their workorder list.
Litter Pick-up Equipment Rental
Planning a community clean-up or beautification project? We offer free rental of litter pickup equipment to help keep your neighborhood looking its best. Residents can borrow high-visibility safety vests, litter grabbers, traffic cones, "Slow Traffic" signs, and orange garbage bags. Whether you're organizing a school project, volunteer day, or neighborhood cleanup, our gear ensures your team can work safely and efficiently. Submit a request with this form: https://forms.office.com/g/VavL7Uucsa
Litter clean-ups are an opportunity for residents to assist in efforts to keep Putnam County roadways clean. Most importantly, these clean-ups should be done in a safe manner and only on county or town roads.
Have a safe and successful litter cleanup:
-
Safety Checklist for Litter Clean-up Event
- Immediately call 911 when an emergency happens.
- Never walk on guide rails.
- NO HORSEPLAY
- Stay off the underside of overhead bridges.
- Do not lean over bridge railings.
- Always face on-coming traffic.
- Do not to park vehicles on roadways or shoulders.
- All must always wear orange shirts or vests.
- Wear long pants, sturdy shoes/boots, and appropriate gloves.
- Never pick up needles, syringes, jagged glass, animal carcasses or heavy objects. Volunteers are not to pick up anything that could be hazardous.
- All 12-to-17-year-old volunteers must be supervised; there must be at least one adult supervisor for every six 12-to-17-year-olds.
- There will be no activity of any kind by volunteers on the roadway surface. Stay to the left of the white pavement stripe.
- Do not engage in horseplay or other such activity that might jeopardize the volunteers’ safety or distract motorists.
- Volunteers should have a first aid kit with them, and transportation should always be available.
At least one volunteer at each cleanup should know CPR in case there is an emergency.
Volunteers should avoid over exertion and make arrangements to provide drinking water in hot weather.
-
Tips for a Successful Litter Clean-up Event
- The day before the cleanup, take 2 backpacks and individually stuff as many orange bags as you can into each backpack (individually vs. all together is very important). The backpacks will allow the volunteers to just pull out additional bags as they walk along.
NOTE: having one hand for the litter grabber and the other for the bag does not allow volunteers to carry the additional bags…the 40″ X 48″ bags are thick and are just too big to put over one’s belt. There will generally be 18 -24 bags used per mile. - Bring a fully charged cell phone, gloves, and wet wipes. Hiking shoes will give more support than sneakers.
To keep the volunteers from slowing each other down…
- Everyone meet at a place approximately in the middle of your section.
- Split the group in half.
- Each group to walk (WALKING FACING TRAFFIC) along your section heading in opposite directions.
- When the 2 groups get to the respective ends your section (where the Adopt-a-Highway signs are), they are then to carefully cross the road and walk back to the place where they parted with the other group WALKING FACING TRAFFIC.
- Splitting the groups means that each will only have to walk 1/2 the distance and they will not bunch up.
Fill the bags only 2/3 please, as the crews have to lift them over their heads into the back of a truck. As the bags get 2/3 filled, tie the tops and leave them alongside the road. If you find a large object, just put that on top of the orange bag.
- The day before the cleanup, take 2 backpacks and individually stuff as many orange bags as you can into each backpack (individually vs. all together is very important). The backpacks will allow the volunteers to just pull out additional bags as they walk along.
Town Contacts
Town of Carmel
845-628-1500 ext.184
Town of Kent
845-306-5620
Lake Carmel Sanitation District
845-225-7030
Town of Patterson
845-878-4341
Town of Philipstown
845-265-3329
Village of Cold Spring
845-265-4883
Town of Putnam Valley
845-526-9114
Town of Southeast (including the Village of Brewster)
845-279-8206
PUTNAM COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION
PHONE 845 808 1390
E-MAIL:
The above email is only monitored during normal business hours from Monday through Friday. Complaints on garbage haulers will not be addressed at this email address. To file a complaint, please call the Department of Health directly at 845-808-1390.
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